370 RAMBLES ABOUT HOME. 



of color in fishes is of much interest in connection with 

 the subject of sexual selection ; but as this fish is noctur- 

 nal in its habits, I can scarcely believe that on this one 

 occasion in the year, when it is active and abroad by 

 day, it is seeking the clearest water and direct sunlight 

 for the better display of its peculiar metallic tints. Cer- 

 tainly the fish does not require this particular coloring as 

 a means of protection, for it has now no enemies. The 

 significance of the color is not known ; but the fact that 

 the fish has some control over it, as the deepening and 

 fading out clearly shows, leaves no room for doubting 

 that it has some important bearing on the habits of the 

 species, and that it is of great influence in the courtship 

 of fishes is therefore highly probable. 



During succeeding summers I have several times 

 floated over weedy patches in the little creek near by, 

 and detected mud sunfish resting in the river-weed. It 

 was the same old story of my aquarium specimens. In 

 every instance these fish w r ere in the remarkable position 

 I have mentioned ; not, indeed, in every case perpen- 

 dicular, but always closely approaching it, and with the 

 head downward. 



I once had the good fortune to observe a large speci- 

 men of this fish making its way toward deeper water 

 through such a dense mass of aquatic vegetation that the 

 greater part of the time it was actually out of the water, 

 apparently creeping among the weeds by the aid of its 

 ventral fins. It progressed in this awkward manner fully 

 three feet, keeping the body in a position as nearly up- 

 right as when swimming. On subsequent examination 

 I found that a large log was deeply imbedded in the mud, 

 with less than half an inch of water flowing over it ; and 

 it was this barrier that caused the fish to imitate success- 

 fully the reptile-like movements that I had witnessed. 



